According to sources cited by Dakar Actu, Senegal’s President Macky Sall demanded from the Regulatory Authority of Post and Telecommunication (ARTP) to sanction mobile operators Sonatel, Tigo and Expresso. The Head of State during the council of ministers which was held on January 20, 2026, said it was inadmissible for these firms to boycott the call for application for 4G licence.

Dakar Actu still citing its sources highlighted that the President demanded the exclusion of the three operators from the new call to application which should be launched soon. This call will be opened to international operators.  

The 4G licence costs FCFA30 billion and extends over a 20-year period. Sonatel said the amount and conditions imposed by the regulator “do not allow leave space for creation of value”. The group valued the licence at FCFA14.5 billion.

Senegal’s consumers Association however believes that the operator have the means to satisfy the government’s demand. Indeed, its president, Momar Ndao, in an interview with Rwmi Quotidien said: “Sonatel has a turnover of FCFA816 billion, thus 2.235 billion FCFA per day, an operating income of FCFA316 billion, so it should have more than enough to afford the 30 billion asked by State for the 20-year 4G licence”. “It is a drop of water in the ocean,” he added.